You specify the rules that assign image profiles and host profiles to hosts using a set of PowerCLI cmdlets that are included in VMware PowerCLI.

If you are new to PowerCLI, read the PowerCLI documentation and
review Using Auto Deploy Cmdlets.
You can get help for any command at the PowerShell prompt.

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Basic help: Get-Helpcmdlet_name

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Detailed help: Get-Help cmdlet_name-Detailed

Note

When you run Auto Deploy cmdlets, provide all parameters on the command line when you invoke the cmdlet. Supplying parameters in interactive mode is not recommended.

Rule Engine PowerCLI Cmdlets

Command

Description

Get-DeployCommand

Returns a list of Auto Deploy cmdlets.

New-DeployRule

Creates a new rule with the specified items and patterns.

Set-DeployRule

Updates an existing rule with the specified items and patterns. You cannot update a rule that is part of a rule set.

Get-DeployRule

Retrieves the rules with the specified names.

Copy-DeployRule

Clones and updates an existing rule.

Add-DeployRule

Adds one or more rules to the working rule set and, by default, also to the active rule set. Use the NoActivate parameter to add a rule only to the working rule set.

Remove-DeployRule

Removes one or more rules from the working rule set and from the active rule set. Run this command with the -Delete parameter to completely delete the rule.

Set-DeployRuleset

Explicitly sets the list of rules in the working rule set.

Get-DeployRuleset

Retrieves the current working rule set or the current active rule set.

Switch-ActiveDeployRuleset

Activates a rule set so that any new requests are evaluated through the rule set.

Get-VMHostMatchingRules

Retrieves rules matching a pattern. For example, you can retrieve all rules that apply to a host or hosts. Use this cmdlet primarily for debugging.

Test-DeployRulesetCompliance

Checks whether the items associated with a specified host are in compliance with the active rule set.

Repair-DeployRulesetCompliance

Given the output of Test-DeployRulesetCompliance, this cmdlet updates the image profile, host profile, and location for each host in the vCenter Server inventory. The cmdlet might apply image profiles, apply host profiles, or move hosts to prespecified folders or clusters on the vCenter Server system.

Apply-EsxImageProfile

Associates the specified image profile with the specified host.

Get-VMHostImageProfile

Retrieves the image profile in use by a specified host. This cmdlet differs from the Get-EsxImageProfile cmdlet in the Image Builder PowerCLI.

Repair-DeployImageCache

Use this cmdlet only if the Auto Deploy image cache is accidentally deleted.

Get-VMHostAttributes

Retrieves the attributes for a host that are used when the Auto Deploy server evaluates the rules.

Get-DeployMachineIdentity

Returns a string value that Auto Deploy uses to logically link an ESXi host in vCenter to a physical machine.

Set-DeployMachineIdentity

Logically links a host object in the vCenter Server database to a physical machine. Use this cmdlet to add hosts without specifying rules.

Get-DeployOption

Retrieves the Auto Deploy global configuration options. This cmdlet currently supports the vlan-id option, which specifies the default VLAN ID for the ESXi Management Network of a host provisioned with Auto Deploy. Auto Deploy uses the value only if the host boots without a host profile.

Set-DeployOption

Sets the value of a global configuration option. Currently supports the vlan-id option for setting the default VLAN ID for the ESXi Management Network.